Next surprise: We were informed that we would be doing manual labor. The spot required us to carry lamp posts, fountains, push cars, handle pigeons, butterflies, car parts...you name it. Most of my day was spent in the cold, carrying a lamp post from one side of the set to the other. Color me S-A-L-T-Y. After 10 hours in the cold, we were released & told to come back at 6:30AM the next day for the shoot. (Did I say it was cold??) I wanted to go home and sleep, but I had to try to catch up on my NAACP work, so I went to bed around 1AM. ;o(
WEDNESDAY: Got there early and was happy to see that there was a shuttle waiting for me and the other actors. The shuttle took us up the hill to the catering truck/ craft services, so we could get a hot breakfast. My BLT was off the hook! I had the beginnings of a cold, so I drank lots of tea & went to my trailer. Excuse me, the trailer I shared with another actress: Sahar Bibyian. She was real cool people. Kinda like an Iranian soul-sista. The trailer was cold and dark (generator went out), and she was really sick. To make matters worse, it started to rain. I dreaded the thought of coming back a third day in the cold. Honestly, have you ever been so cold you thought you'd never get warm again? Combine that with stress, fatigue and a sore throat, and that's how I felt. Yes, I was being paid, but it really bothered me that things seemed to be so off-kilter and nobody was even addressing the situations. I must say everyone was nice, so I tried to perk up, but felt like I wasn't doing a good job of it. The highlights were talking to some cool people, and lunch (delish).
Anyhoo, I made it through the day. My duty of carrying the lightpost was changed, so now I was pushing a car from one side of the set to the other.

I went home, did as little work as I could get away with doing, then readied myself for bed. Before going to bed I had to adjust my attitude. Really. I had to talk to myself: "Nicole, you are a working actress in Los Angeles. Do you know how many people are clamoring for this? On a national commercial, no less. Yes, you've been cold for 2 days, and yes you're sick & tired, but you will live. The spot is going to be beautiful, and you're going to be happy. Go to bed, sleep well, and wake up renewed, refreshed, and excited about this experience."
THURSDAY: I woke up. It was cold. I put on more layers and packed a blanket. I got to the set and the shuttle was waiting. I got on it, had my breakfast, and went to my trailer. My roommate had not arrived yet. I turned the radio to a classical station, and turned on all of the lights, pleased that the generator was working and it was warmer than it had been the previous day. I had packed construction paper, scissors, tape strips, and a Sharpie. I made personalized stars to tape on our trailer door to make us feel special.

The sun came out, and it turned out to be a very nice day. I didn't feel well, but if we could have had one more day just like that, I wouldn't have minded one bit.
I intend to keep in contact with a couple of people that I met, and I can hardly wait to see the finished product. All's well that ends well.
I have learned the importance of attitude. Yes, I had every right to be upset, but it didn't make anything better, and I felt funky for two days.
I am a working actress in Los Angeles where the job-to-actor ratio is ugly. I am living my dream, and if I don't allow myself to experience it fully, I am a fool.
My mama ain't raise no fool. ;o)
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